5 SIDE EFFECTS OF CONSUMING ALOE VERA JUICE

Aloe vera is a popular medicinal plant that is used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. Its leaves are full of a gel-like substance that contains numerous beneficial compounds.

Aloe vera is a good product for external use. If consumed orally over a long time, it has far-reaching medical consequences.

Some of the side effects of aloe vera juice are:

• It’s juice contains a substance called anthraquinone, a laxative, which can cause diarrhoea if taken in large amounts. Severe diarrhoea can cause pain, cramps and dehydration.
• Consult your doctor before consuming aloe vera juice, especially if you are undergoing a medical treatment or taking prescribed drugs, as the juice may cause adverse reactions when consumed along with a few medicines. Laxative in aloe vera may even inhibit the absorption of some drugs in the body. Aloe vera juice also reacts to herbs like jalap roots, castor oil, rhubarb root and bark root, causing dehydration and diarrhoea. Fenugreek and garlic do not digest well with aloe juice; it can lower blood sugar and potassium levels in the body.
• Drinking aloe vera juice can result in allergic reactions like skin rash or hives, itchy or swollen skin, difficulty in breathing, chest pain and throat irritation
• Aloe vera juice contains latex, an ingredient which has many health risks associated with it. It can aggravate health problems like colitis, Crohn’s disease, appendicitis, diverticulosis, intestinal obstruction, hemorrhoid, stomach pains and ulcers. There are also reports which suggest of hepatitis caused by consumption of aloe vera juice, becoming a cause of concern for people with liver problems.
• Pregnant and lactating women are strictly forbidden from consuming aloe vera juice, due to its purgative and irritant qualities. It may stimulate uterine contractions in pregnant women, leading to miscarriage and birth defects. Lactating women should also refrain from consuming aloe vera juice, as it contains anthraquinone which may lead to diarrhoea. It is also considered unsafe for children below 12 years of age.